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Brent Batten analysis: Trump's visit looks good, but the real work of recovery falls to others

Thanks to Hurricane Irma, political firepower in unprecedented magnitude poured into Collier County this week.

But what effect, if any, that firepower will have in terms of expediting the government response to the disaster remains to be seen.

Donald Trump’s quick foray Thursday into an East Naples manufactured-home community that was both heavily damaged and conveniently located is the only time in recent memory a sitting president has visited Collier County to witness the aftermath of a disaster.

Add to his presence a joint tour of the region by U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, who made multiple stops in the eastern part of the county Wednesday.

President Donald Trump shakes hands as he meets with people affected by Hurricane Irma as he, Vice President Mike Pence and first lady Melania Trump hand out food at Naples Estates on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Naples, Fla. Evan Vucci, AP

President Donald Trump, center, tours a neighborhood impacted by Hurricane Irma, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Naples, Fla. Walking to the right of the President is Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Behind the President is Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., first lady Melania Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci, AP

The county’s two representatives in the U.S. House, Francis Rooney and Mario Diaz-Balart, accompanied Trump to Naples Estates, as did Gov. Rick Scott and a handful of state legislators. Trump’s visit drew by far the most attention, as one would expect.

But the real value of visits from federal elected officials probably lies with the legislators, who can focus more on their constituents’ problems and bring consistent pressure to bear on the bureaucrats in charge of responding.

All four of the area’s elected representatives in Congress vowed to do precisely that.

Trump’s visit, amounting to about 30 minutes of passing out sandwiches, shaking hands and offering praise and support, is clearly more symbolic. Yes, he can sign bills authorizing expenditures and issue dictates to department heads. But he’s also consumed by North Korea, tax reform, DACA, Hurricane Harvey and a dozen other issues that can command his attention at any time.

In a sense, Trump was in a no-win situation, coming to the disaster area as he did.

Critics will question whether the drain on local law enforcement required to protect the president was worth it, considering the other demands they face.

The venue chosen also offers ammunition to detractors.

Naples Estates was damaged, to be sure, but to see the full effect of Hurricane Irma, he’d need to go to Immokalee or Everglades City.

But Immokalee is not Trump territory. He garnered less than 20 percent of the vote there in 2016. He wouldn’t want to risk an unfavorable reception.

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Eustolia Flores and her daughter Jocelyn, 1, stand in their trailer that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in Immokalee on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Flores and her four children are staying in their neighbor's trailer with them for now. Dorothy Edwards/Naples Daily News

Robby Daffin consoles his mother, Nancy Daffin, as she returns to her destroyed home on Plantation Island for the first time on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 in Everglades City, three days after Hurricane Irma. "I care about her more than anything," said Daffin. During the eye of Hurricane Irma, Daffin drove to his mother's house to check on it. While leaving Plantation Island, Daffin became trapped by rapid flood waters and feared for his life. After finally contacting his son on Snapchat, he was rescued from the bridge. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Florena Galindo, 17, and her sister Jocelyn Flores, 1, take a break from the heat outside their trailer that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in Immokalee on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. The family is staying in their neighbor's trailer with them for now. They lost power in the storm. Dorothy Edwards/Naples Daily News

Jade Daffin, 10, draws hearts in the sludge left in her grandmother's destroyed home on Plantation Island on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 in Everglades City, three days after Hurricane Irma. Nancy Daffin returned to her home three days after the storm to find it in ruins. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Andris Flores, 8, plays in front of his family's trailer that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in Immokalee on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. Eustolia Flores and her four children set up a tent outside of their trailer to sleep in until their neighbor purchased a generator. The family is staying with neighbors in their trailer next door. Dorothy Edwards/Naples Daily News

Eustolia Flores stands in front of her trailer that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in Immokalee on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Flores and her four children are staying in their neighbor's trailer with them for now. Dorothy Edwards/Naples Daily News

Robby Daffin sorts through family photos that are damaged from the flood waters and sludge on Thursday, September 14, 2017, four days after Hurricane Irma. "I didn't know these were in there," said Daffin. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Lisa Marteeny and her husband, Lee, sit on their porch as she tries to contact insurance companies on Thursday. This is the first day since Hurricane Irma that Lisa has had a working phone. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

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Everglades City would be considered friendly ground. He got more than two-thirds of the votes cast there. But while the president could have been airlifted into the disaster zone, moving the press entourage accompanying him to the site would be a logistical nightmare. Less of a photo op.

So, there he was in Naples Estates, Gov. Rick Scott by his side, surveying damage in a community where he got 64 percent of the vote. He bantered with the residents as they came through the food line, eliciting at least one "Make America Great Again" shout from a resident/supporter.

Trump supporters will point to the moment as an example of leadership and inspiration. The trip in and out of Southwest Florida may be more valuable to him than the time on the ground. From above, he could get a sense of the flooding and structural damage in hard-hit areas of southern Lee County.